When Tim's phone rang just as he reached the end of a winding mountain road in rural West Virginia, his first reaction was relief. If the phone could ring, it meant he'd finally gotten service back. He'd been without cell service all day, stranded in a backwater rural town where a young petty officer had managed to get himself killed. At first blush, it looked like a run-of-the-mill hunting accident, but if there was one thing he'd learned in all his years with Gibbs, it was never to assume. When the phone rang a second time and Gibb's name flashed up on the screen, his relief turned to amusement. Abby' d always sworn Gibbs had ESP, and it looked like the ESP was working today. His amusement, however, was followed quickly by concern. Gibbs was the girls' de facto guardian when he and Abby were away. What if something had happened to one of them?
"Boss?" he said, putting the phone on speakerphone. He didn't dare try to juggle both the phone and the wheel on these narrow little roads.
"McGee?" Gibbs's voice was faint, barely audible above the crackling and static, but it was there.
"Yeah, Boss, I'm here," Tim said. "What's going on?"
"It's Leigh," Gibbs replied. "She got herself in trouble today."
Tim groaned, letting his head loll back against the car seat. "What now?"
"It seems she decided today would a good day to throw a temper tantrum and refuse to do her work," Gibbs answered.
Tim swore under his breath. "I thought I put a stop to that this morning. I should have known better."
"What do you mean?" Gibbs asked.
"She's been in that mood all day. She refused to go to school this morning because she didn't have any clean pants. Then, she threw a fit when I told her to wear one of Katie's skirts. I know she doesn't like them, but it was the only alternative I had at the time. But she flatly refused to put it on, went so far as to throw it on the ground and stomp her feet," Tim explained.
Gibbs chuckled. "Gotta admire the kid's spunk, but I hope you didn't let her away with that."
"Of course not, Boss," Tim said, surprised that Gibbs even had to ask. "All it got her was a smack on the bottom."
"The tantrum got her more than a smack," Gibbs said wryly.
"I see," Tim said slowly. "From the school... or you?"
"Me," Gibbs told him. "Her teacher called me, and I took care of it."
"Already?" Tim asked. It was only two o'clock. The girls weren't out of school yet.
"Yep," Gibbs said, "brought her home this morning and dealt with it."
"So she's with you?" Tim questioned. He wasn't particularly pleased that Leigh had essentially been allowed to skip school as a result of her bad behavior, but he wasn't about to argue with Gibbs either. They had long ago given Gibbs the right to make those decisions in their absence.
But Gibbs surprised him. "Nope," he said. "Took her back to school after our 'discussion'."
"You did?" Tim asked, genuinely surprised. Gibbs had, once or twice, made him go back to work after he'd spanked him, but none of them had ever done that to the girls.
"Yeah," Gibbs said, sounding uncertain, "didn't think she should get to miss school after what she did."
Tim could hardly argue with that. "She shouldn't," he agreed. But a part of him had to sympathize with the kid, she had to have had a long and miserable day. Tim sighed again. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that, Boss. I'll have a talk with Leigh when I pick her up."
"Dammit, McGee, " Gibbs growled, "don't apologize…"
Despite the stress of the day, Tim found himself smiling. "I know, I know…it's a sign of weakness."
"In all these years, haven't I got that through to you yet?" Gibbs asked.
Tim's smile widened into a grin. "Yeah, Boss, I got it, temporary memory lapse."
Gibbs laughed briefly before turning serious again. "Besides, Tim, Leigh's family, no apology necessary. They're mine, too, you know."
"Yes, sir," Tim said softly, acutely aware that at this moment, Gibbs was speaking not as his Boss, but as the surrogate father he'd become. "I know."
"But, Tim," Gibbs went on, "when you talk to Leigh today, just talk, ok? She's had enough today."
"Of course," Tim said, confused. "What else would I do? You said you'd handled it."
"Well, yeah," Gibbs said, sounding uncharacteristically sheepish, "but I know that if the girls get into trouble at school, they usually get punished at home too, and you know I don't disagree with that. I'd do the same thing myself. Told Leigh as much today, but just this once…"
"Boss," Tim blurted, understanding suddenly dawning, "are you trying to tell me not to spank Leigh?"
"Yes," Gibbs said shortly, "Isn't that what I'm say—" he broke off abruptly as Tim burst out laughing. "Dammit, McGee, what the hell is so funny?"
"Boss," Tim said, valiantly biting back his laughter. "don't you think I know that? I've been in Leigh's shoes before, remember? I know what getting a spanking from you is like. The thought of spanking Leigh never entered my mind. Yes, you're right about our rule, but we do that because we want the girls to know we support the school and the school's rules. You've already made that clear. There's no need for me to. I will talk to her, but that's all."
"Ok," Gibbs said, satisfied. "So, tell me about your case."
And just like that, they were back in their old roles, and Tim relished the familiar rhythm as he made his way back home.
